456 RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. 
open forest of pines, of the species previously met with; the 
lack of undergrowth afforded pleasant and shaded vistas in 
every direction. In following the sandy road we waded 
through broad and shallow pools, miniature lakes made by 
the recent ‘rains, in which we dipped our cans, and drinking 
found it more palatable than the water from the muddy 
springs we had just passed. 
Upon both sides of, and a few rods from, the road are 
small deep ponds, covering perhaps an acre, surrounded with 
gaunt and leafless cypresses, Taxodium distichum, standing 
grim and naked in the midst of the forest; hoary, speech- 
less giants, whose gnarled limbs seem to clutch at, while 
they sustain long drooping tufts of pendulous moss, that, in 
the sombre light, looked more like funeral emblems than 
living vegetation. Over these glassy lakelets the 
TOMUS towering boughs of the cypress 
Met in a dusky arch, and trailing mosses in mid air 
Waved like banners that hang on the walls of ancient cathedrals. 
Neath-lka th 3] d, T RETE WENNS dete by the herons,” 

many specimens of various species of which were seen slowly 
marching with solemn strides, like veteran soldiers, guarding 
the solitude of the forest. 
Seating ourselves upon a fallen pine we halted to rest 
awhile, for walking is warm work on such a day. There 
are no wild flowers, and in many places no grass, for a fire, 
which the last rain only partially extinguished, burned even 
the scanty sod. ! 
Again we started, and moving forward had proceeded but a 
few rods when up flew a wild turkey (Meleagris gallo-pavo 
Linn.), the only specimen yet met with by us in Florida, and 
farther on, but out of range, a flock of quails, Ortyx Virgin- 
tanus. This species is quite pretty; in fact all of the 
quails are tidy-looking birds, but the Californians,* with 
their plumed heads, rather lead the others. 


Bona 
previously quite abundant. Their 


